BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders are prevalent in Asia, and less frequent in Western countries.

AIM: To elucidate the possible association of EBV with CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) involving the skin and lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) in South Korea.

METHODS: In situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) and immunohistochemistry including viral latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin specimens of 26 cases of LyP and 16 cases of CD30+ ALCL involving the skin which were selected from six university hospital medical centers in South Korea.

RESULTS: In situ hybridization studies showed positivity of the neoplastic cells for EBER in two of 16 cases of CD30+ ALCL and in none of the cases of LyP. One EBER-positive case was cutaneous CD30+ ALCL with concurrent lymph node involvement. The other was CD30+ ALCL involving the skin and other organs, including lymph nodes, bone, lung, and spleen. Immunostaining for LMP-1 was also positive only for the two cases of EBER-positive CD30+ ALCL.

CONCLUSION: LyP and primary cutaneous CD30+ ALCL are very rarely associated with EBV in South Korea.